Anyone got any experience of Refunds Direct??

[notalone]

Apparently one in three people may be entitled to a tax rebate, so I have sent off for and received forms from Refunds Direct in relation to tax credits.

It seems just too good to be true. They operate on a no win no fee basis but what if by applying I find out I owe Inland Revenue money instead? (that really would be just my sodding luck lol). Has anyone used these succesfully or had a bad experience from them?

You can do this yourself direct with the tax office if you believe you have made an overpayment. Check you last few years P60's before doing anything.

Well its in relation to the years 2001 - 2003 and I don't have my P60's from that far back. I filled in an online assessment form and the estimate was that I may be due approx £1500 back, but is it possible that in theory it could work against me and I may end up owing money instead?

Techincally it could. I would be wary of using one of those companies as they can take a hefty cut if you did overpay. Also make sure youread the fine print thouroughly.

However, if you dont have your P60's is there a reason you think you over paid £1500? Not trying to put a dampner on things but its not worth going so far back unless there is a reason for the overpayment.

It may also be worth checking if there is a time limit on the claims.

Yeah - they do take a percentage.

Apparently a lot of people were not paid enough tax credits during this period and this is what the forms are for. I have no reason to think I was either under or over paid but I just don't want it to work against me. I have read the small print and it doesn't seem to mention anything about what happens if you owe them money. I just know with my bad luck I will end up with a big bill for my trouble. Do you reckon I should just leave it then?

Tax credits were only out 1 year - let me see if I can find the info - its when they changed from using a diff tax code to the present system. Dont think it was as far back as 2001 though.

Bit late to this thread but I saw this advert (?) on facebook.

It is too good to be true.

Basically there was a tax allowance called Children's Tax Credit available for 2001-02 and 2002-03. Only one parent could claim it and that had to be the highest earner. It was worth £520 off your tax bill for each of those years. If the highest earner was a higher rate taxpayer (40%) the allowance was reduced on a sliding scale.

If you had a baby between 6 April 2002 and 5 April 2003 you were able to claim an additional £500 off your tax for that year only.

Chances are you claimed it at the time.

Their website says "low fees starting at 18% (these will be detailed in your claim pack)". Even in the best case scenario you'd be shelling out £270 and I'm sure the ad I read detailed much more than 18%.

If you don't think you or your DH claimed it at the time write to your tax office before 31 Jan telling them your and your DH's NINO and the DOB of your youngest child and ask them to check it for you (but I will say it's pushing it for the earliest year if you haven't got your P60s). Might be worth phoning to check first before the records get wiped..

(BTW you are supposed to keep tax stuff/ P60s etc for 6 years )